Latest news with #InFocus
The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Is ICJ's ruling on climate change merely symbolic?
In a landmark ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 23, 2025, announced countries and territories are obligated to combat climate change through efforts to the best of their capabilities. Climate change poses an 'urgent and existential threat,' the court said. It held that climate action is not based on any one law but is rather a mix of international law provisions like the UN charter, and international treaties like the Kyoto Protocol, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Paris Agreement, among others, and that they should influence the actions that member states take to protect the environment. The Court also ruled that countries bear the responsibility of protecting the earth's climate systems, reduce emissions and limit global warming. Several countries have hailed the Court's decision, saying that it adds heft to humanity's fight against climate change. The ruling hits all the right notes -- it places human rights at the forefront of the fight against global warming. But, is it merely symbolic, given it is an advisory opinion and not enforceable? Guest: Dr. Vaibhav Chaturvedi, The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) Host: Nivedita V Edited by Sharmada venkatasubramanian Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Behind the scenes: How the data and science teams measured heat stress
The podcast features interviews with the four journalists behind Taking on the Heat, a data-driven story on heat stress in Chennai. The story follows the daily experiences of four working-class individuals with varying levels of exposure to direct sunlight. Each participant was equipped with a device that recorded temperature and humidity data throughout their workday. The analysis sheds light not only on their exposure to heat but also on how they manage it, and what kind of support the State could offer to ease their burden. Guests: Vasudevan Mukunth, Nitika Francis, Srinivasan Ramani, and Areena Arora Host: Vignesh Radhakrishnan Camera: Shivaraj S, Thamodharan B, and Kailas Krishna Editing: Shivaraj S and Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Produced by: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian For more episodes of In Focus:
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
What is India doing about its child trafficking problem
Nearly all of us have seen an instance of it: a child working at a street-side tea shop, begging at a traffic light, or perhaps even as a domestic help at some homes. Not many of us realise perhaps that a large number of these children are trafficked: taken away from their families and forced into exploitative, abusive labour. July 30 is observed as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. In today's podcast, we talk about the scope of the problem in India, the government's response, and most importantly, what more needs to be done to protect every child in our land. Guest: Bhuwan Ribhu, Founder of Just Rights for Children and Child Rights Activist Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Jude Francis Weston For more episodes of In Focus:
The Hindu
24-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Pitch Imperfect: The ISL suspension and Indian football's latest crisis
On July 11, the upcoming 2025–26 season of the Indian Super League was abruptly put on hold by its organiser, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), citing uncertainty over the Master Rights Agreement with the AIFF. This unprecedented move has left players, clubs and fans in limbo, and raises fresh questions about the governance and sustainability of Indian football's top-tier league. What exactly is behind this standoff? Does it signal deeper structural issues in Indian football? And how is the Indian football ecosystem affected by this? Guest: Amitabha Das Sharma from The Hindu's sports bureau Host: Reuben Joe Joseph Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
The Hindu
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Tesla Finally Lands in India: Is It Too Late?
Back in 2016, Tesla began taking preorders from Indian customers with no timeline for delivery. Now, nine years later, it's officially arrived — but much has changed. The Indian EV space is more competitive, homegrown players like Tata and global brands like BYD have made inroads and import duties remain steep. And in the premium segment that Tesla is targeting, it's not the first mover. German brands like Mercedes, BMW and Audi have been here for years. What took Tesla so long? Why did early adopters like Vishal Gondal cancel their bookings? And is India ready — in terms of infrastructure, pricing and policy — for what Tesla offers? Guest: Vishal Gondal, tech entrepreneur and early Tesla hopeful Host: Anupama Chandrasekaran Produced and edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
